The 2017 Audi SQ5 TDI Comes With an Electric Turbo and More Speed

New technology filters down to more affordable levels unbelievably quickly these days thanks to all the modular construction methods carmakers came up with in recent years, The latest prime example of that is the 2017 Audi SQ5, which will ditch the bigger sibling Audi SQ7's twin-turbo setup for a single blower with some additional help from an electric compressor, which helps to eliminate turbo lag.

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Having a single exhaust-driven turbo improves the engine's thermal efficiency, while the 3.0 TDI also comes with Audi's Valvelift System, which regulates the lift of the valves in two stages depending on load and engine speed. Add the benefit of having an electric compressor that Audi claims can deliver the power in less than 250 milliseconds by forcing the air into the intake manifold at any rpm, and you're in for a fast ride indeed.

Both the compressor and the active anti-roll bars need an additional 48V sub-system to work just like in the Bentley Bentayga and the SQ7, and we'll certainly see more and more of these pop up, since both electric turbochargers, air compressors, active suspensions and motors mounted on the crank or anywhere else need the higher voltage. The good news is that a 48V sub-system can work in perfect harmony with your car's existing 12V units, but if the idea of such a drivetrain still sounds like a maintenance nightmare, I hear you.

Audi

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Talking to Autocar, Audi powertrain chief Oliver Hoffman said all this wizardry could make the 2017 SQ5 more powerful than the (so far) beefiest Jaguar F-Pace, but while 390hp sounds tempting, they are more likely to settle for around 365, which is still 30 more than what you get from the current SQ5 Plus diesel. This can only mean that you will get 390 as soon as it's time for the next Plus, let's say three years from now.

According to Audi's leaked product schedule, the new SQ5 will debut next April. US availability remains a question, but during the SQ7's launch, Audi said such a diesel is 'ideally suited for markets such as the United States.' Let's hope they feel the same about the smaller one.

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